RUAIDHRI Higgins has spoken of his respect for opposite number Davy Jeffrey but has challenged the Bannsiders to leave Portadown with all three points this evening…

Coleraine are the visitors to Shamrock Park in the final encounter of the month for Higgins’ men.

Higgins was an interested spectator last Saturday night as the Ports were edged out by Crusaders – but he knows the threat possessed by Jeffrey’s men who are chasing their first points of the campaign.

“It was a strange game actually…I was at it and 11 v 11, Crusaders were excellent, and then 11 v 10, when Portadown got a player sent off, they actually really grew into the game and finished the game really strong,” he said.

“So we know that going to Shamrock Park on a Friday night is going to be a difficult task and we’ll need to be on it to win the game because it’s only a matter of time before they start picking up points.

“I have really good respect for Davy. He’s a good man, a really good man. He’s a legend in Irish league football.

“But hopefully come 10pm on Friday night, we’ve added three points to our tally because that’s what we’re going there for.

“We want to go there and win the game but we’ll obviously show the opposition the respect they deserve as well.”

Higgins further provided an update on the injury front as there is good news for one member of his squad and not so good for another.

He explained: “When you come off physical games and the difficult conditions like last weekend, then you do pick up a niggle or two along the way.

“Joel Cooper will more than likely be out for a couple of weeks. Joel’s a big player for us, we know that, and we’ll work hard to get him fit.

“On positive news, Cameron Stewart’s done a bit of training this week.

“We’ve got one out and one potentially coming back, so that’s where we’re at.”

Supporters can get tickets for tonight’s game HERE.